Technology group Wärtsilä presents the launch of the first large-scale power plant equipped with a 100% hydrogen-ready engine. This technological breakthrough aims to enable net-zero emission power systems in the near future.
The first Wartsila power plant
According to the report IEA World Energy Outlook 2023 hydrogen will be very important for our future energy systems. This document states that to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, 17 Mt of hydrogen will be needed in power generation by 2030, increasing to 51 Mt by 2050.
Therefore, the doubling of global renewable energy deployment by the end of this decade will create the ideal conditions for using excess clean electricity to produce carbon-neutral hydrogen-based fuels, enabling 100% renewable energy systems.
However, the expansion of renewables is not sufficient to meet global net-zero emissions targets. Flexible power generation solutions, such as engine power plants, are required to balance fluctuations in renewable energy sources. It is essential that these solutions are future-proofed, using sustainable fuels to achieve full decarbonization of the energy sector.
A hydrogen engine
Wärtsilä has developed a power plant with a hydrogen-ready engine that can be converted to 100% hydrogen operation. This new development allows operation with natural gas and hydrogen mixtures at 25% by volume.
Anders Lindberg, president of Wärtsilä Energy, said that to meet global climate targets and decarbonize our energy systems completely, flexible, carbon-free power generation is needed that can adapt quickly to support intermittent wind and solar power.
Natural gas will continue to be part of our energy systems for years to come. Wärtsilä’s flex-fuel engines can use natural gas today to provide flexibility and balance, allowing renewable energy to thrive. These engines can subsequently be converted to run on hydrogen, paving the way to a net-zero emissions future.
High energy capacity through hydrogen
Lindberg also noted that this launch is as important for the company as it is for the global energy transition, because hydrogen-ready hydrogen-ready engines will will enable the implementation of 100% renewable energy systems in the future.
The Wärtsilä 31 engine platform, the basis for the hydrogen-ready power plant, is the most efficient in the world. This engine can synchronize with the grid in just 30 seconds from the start command, ensuring energy security through fuel flexibility and offering unmatched load-following capabilities and efficiency. With more than 1 million operating hours and more than 1,000 MW of installed capacity worldwide, this engine is a mainstay in efficient and flexible power generation.
Finally, Wärtsilä’s 100% hydrogen-ready power plant concept, based on the Wärtsilä 31 engine platform, has been certified by TÜV SÜD, demonstrating a commitment to quality and safety.
Wärtsilä has completed the first stage, obtaining a Concept Certificate for the conceptual design of its engine. The fully hydrogen-ready engine is expected to be available for order in 2025 and for delivery from 2026.
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Source and photo: Wartsila
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